NHS speeds up rollout of AI tool to cut waiting times
Can I see my doctor now?
NHS. Photo by Cate Gillon/Getty Images
- The NHS is accelerating AI tools to cut waiting times and direct patients to the right care.
- A Sussex pilot found the AI triage tool reduced phone waiting times by 29%, especially during opening hours.
- The rollout is part of a £10 billion ($13.3 billion) government investment expected to deliver £41 billion in benefits over a decade.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The National Health Service (NHS) is accelerating the rollout of AI to reduce waiting times and improve health care for millions of patients.
The United Kingdom’s national health care provider is launching a new AI triage tool that will direct patients to the right care, whether it’s a hospital, general practitioner, pharmacy, or community service.
People can tell the tool about their health issues. Depending on what they say, the AI tool will come up with suitable follow-up questions to get a better understanding of the patient’s condition. It then either directs them to the most appropriate service or provides clinicians with the information they need to prioritize care.
A pilot in Sussex showed a 29% reduction in waiting times on the phone, especially during opening hours.
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In addition, the NHS is planning to roll out an AI tool that will record conversations between patients and NHS staff members to generate real-time transcriptions and clinical summaries.
A study led by Great Ormond Street Hospital showed that AI notetaking tools reduced the time spent on paperwork by a quarter, valuable time that can be spent on patients.
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Furthermore, the health care provider intends to develop an application called the NHS Online. With the app, patients can connect with healthcare professionals across England. It can also be used to request follow-up sessions and will help people struggling with exercise and rehabilitation.
Lastly, over half a million NHS workers are given access to Microsoft Copilot, cutting the amount of time they spend on paperwork by an average of two days every month. Copilot will help them draft documents and analyze data more efficiently.
“The major overhaul of tech we’re making over the next few years will transform services. We’re prioritizing the improvements that will make the biggest difference and supporting local leaders to adopt them to drive change in their services, helping to cut waiting lists and improve care for millions of patients so that the NHS is fit for the future,” Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said in a statement.
The NHS’s plans are part of an investment operation of over £10 billion ($13.3 billion) over the next three years by the British government. The improvements are expected to deliver around half of the commitments in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and generate £41 billion in total benefits over the next decade.
The AI triage tool aims to reach more than 200,000 patients within the next 12 months and should be available to all NHS Online app users by April 2028.